We are overjoyed to give our Canadian Readers a chance to win a copy of record-shattering AVENGERS: ENDGAME on Blu-ray^TM !

Synopsis:

Marvel Studios’ “Avengers: Endgame,” the climactic conclusion to an unprecedented, 11-year cinematic journey in which the Avengers take one final stand against Thanos, delivered the biggest opening weekend in history and is currently one of the highest-grossing films of all time.

Fans who bring home “Avengers: Endgame” will gain hours of additional screen time with their favourite cast members and filmmakers who have shaped the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Bonus features include a tribute to the great Stan Lee; the tale of Robert Downey Jr.’s casting as Iron Man; the evolution of Captain America; Black Widow’s dramatic story arc; directors Anthony and Joe Russo’s experience at the helm of both “Avengers: Infinity War” and “Avengers: Endgame”; the making of an epic battle scene with the women of the MCU; the creation of Bro Thor; deleted scenes; a gag reel and more.

See the Trailer:

Artwork:

To enter to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK. CLICK “share” from there or Re-Tweet this Contest Tweet from @mrwillw for an extra chance!

Canadian Readers only, please.

Walt Disney Studios Canada release AVENGERS: ENDGAME Tuesday, August 13, 2019 on DVD, 4K and Blu-ray^TM . It arrives on Digital in HD Friday, July 30, 2019.

(Photo/video credit: Walt Disney Studios Canada)

Back in December, we posted this piece pointing to some early images of Benedict Cumberbatch in the role of Doctor Strange for the upcoming Marvel Studios project of the same name. The film has flown under the radar to some extent, perhaps because we have some other superhero releases to get through first in 2016, but the argument can be made that Cumberbatch is the biggest star to take up a superhero role since Robert Downey, Jr. and Scarlett Johansson. And that should make this a pretty exciting release when the time comes.

In the meantime all we have is speculation and whatever the studio gives us. And this past week, that included a first look at the character in action! The debut trailer for Doctor Strange was uploaded to YouTube by Marvel Entertainment, and you can view it in its entirety here.

In the meantime, here are some thoughts and questions we had regarding this early look…

First, how about the distinct Christopher Nolan undertones? Upon a first watch of the trailer you may notice that in a very general sense the sounds and cinematography on display are reminiscent of Nolan’s style. But watching more closely, you might see distinct echoes of two films in particular: Batman Begins and Inception. We see Stephen Strange (Cumberbatch) in both humble rags and a tuxedo, and then seemingly training and reinventing himself in what looks to be a Far East temple of some sort very much in the image of Christian Bale’s Bruce Wayne in Batman Begins. We also see people manipulating environments and even folding cities in ways that bring Inception visuals to mind. This is by no means to suggest this film will be anything like those Nolan projects, but either way they’re certainly not bad comparisons.

The next thought that came to mind was the question of how familiar this character will be to comic fans, if at all. The truth is that the studio (and larger company) have already made some efforts to plant an image of Doctor Strange in the minds of modern fans. The character exists in multiple games online and on mobile devices, and there may even be a hint of him in a popular casino game at this site. The image for The Magician Trick Picks slot game looks suspiciously like some versions of Strange, and we know that both Marvel and DC like to advertise their characters by licensing their images out to these platforms. In this case, the game isn’t official, but it could easily have been taken as a hint of more to come. Despite all these appearances most of which fall in line with the Entertainment Weekly stills of Cumberbatch in the role that we discussed previously the trailer shows a humbler and more ordinary looking character. It may b e that for this first film we’re pretty much looking at a normal human before he transforms into a costumed hero.

And finally, it’s difficult to watch the trailer without wondering: is this a little bit too much? The imagery and Nolan-like quality are quite exciting, on their own, but the film looks to have a distinctly different tone than most of the other superhero films we’ve seen. Furthermore, it certainly appears as if the school of power that Strange is studying in has secrets that would far surpass the abilities of the other Avengers, and of the villains we’ve seen thusfar. An early review for Captain America: Civil War essentially praises the upcoming film for remaining grounded, whereas so many superhero films have focused on greater powers and enemies emerging from the skies. Frankly it’s all gotten a little bitridiculous and there has to be some concern that Doctor Strange will ramp things up in that department just a few months after Civil War brings the genre back down to Earth.

Purely as its own project, however, Doctor Strange is looking pretty interesting. Its trailer definitely makes you want to know more.

He’s a Buddhist? We had no clue. Entertainment Weekly has a fascinating read on Benedict Cumberbatch this week as he graces the cover in an exclusive DOCTOR STRANGE preview!

Cumberbatch who stars in the titular role of the upcoming Blockbuster reveals that he spent his teen years working with Tibetan monks, teaching them English. “I became interested the meeting point between Western logic and Eastern mysticism”, he says.  The role of Doctor Strange allows him to  explore supernatural forces and alternative dimensions.

Read more here.

DOCTOR STRANGE also stars Rachel McAdams, Michael Stuhlbarg, Tilda Swinton, Chiewetel Ejiofor and Mads Mikkelsen.

See the Cover:

Marvel Entertainment Canada release DOCTOR STRANGE on Friday, November 4, 2016.

(Photo credit: Marvel/Entertainment Weekly)

Elevation Pictures and Mr. Will want you to get-in on a Film which has Critics and Audiences in overwhelming agreement of its greatness! THE IMITATION GAME premiered here at TIFF ’14 to resoundingly positive response winning the People’s Choice Award. Although it’s been in theatres in limited release for a bit, we want you to experience what is definitively a Contender at the Academy Awards!  Also, we want you to win a copy of Alan Turing: The Enigma, on which the Film is based and if this weren’t enough how about a super-rare authentic signed Photo from BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH himself?

Official Synopsis:
In THE IMITATION GAME, Benedict Cumberbatch stars as Alan Turing, the genius British mathematician, logician, cryptologist and computer scientist who led the charge to crack the German Enigma Code that helped the Allies win WWII. Turing went on to assist with the development of computers at the University of Manchester after the war, but was prosecuted by the UK government in 1952 for homosexual acts which the country deemed illegal.

THE IMITATION GAME also stars Keira Knightley, Matthew Goode, Mark Strong and Allen Leech.

See the Trailer:

To enter to win, simply click “like” on this Post at Mr. Will on Facebook!  Click “share” on this Post from there and get an extra chance.  You also may Re-Tweet the below for another opportunity also:

http://www.mrwillwong.com/theimitationgame @MRWILLW wants us to #win a #THEIMITATIONGAME Prize Pack!

 Good luck, Willionaire$!

A glance at that Cumberbatch Autograph:

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Sep 9, 2014 at 8:28am PDT

Mr. Will + The Cast of The Imitation Game:

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Jan 1, 2015 at 5:31pm PST

Elevation Pictures release THE IMITATION GAME, now in theatres.

(Photo/video credit: Elevation Pictures)

Let’s be real. We can never have enough Celeb Selfies!  2014 was a year I’ll never forget and will forever go down as one of our most star-studded yet!  Our travels brought us to L.A. and New York, but our most exciting adventures took place here in our Hometown of Toronto!  Let’s take a walk down our star-studded memory lane to some of our fave Celeb moments of 2014!

Who were you most excited to see?  The red-hot Benedict Cumberbatch? The private Usher? The iconic Tom Cruise?  The adorable Anna Kendrick? “It Boy” Ansel Elgort?  How about “It Girl” Shailene Woodley? The incredibly-tough Reese Witherspoon? The irresistible Tom Hardy?! 

Also, we want to share with you some of our fave of the several thousand Celeb Snaps we took in 2014!  Chances are if there was a major Star in-town this year, we at some point snapped them!

2014 will go down as one of the strongest years for Cinema in recent memory, but which Movies rocked our World?  And which Singles ruled our iPod?  You’re about to find out!

Re-live some of our Fave Celeb Selfies of 2014 (click HD for better quality):

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Sep 9, 2014 at 6:56pm PDT

TOP PHOTOS:

Tinashe, Tattoo Rock Parlour

 

R&B Sensation #Tinashe hits the stage at a packed Tattoo Rock Parlour tonight. cc: @tinashenow

 

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Dec 12, 2014 at 10:08pm PST

Rachel McAdams at Canada’s Walk of Fame

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Oct 10, 2014 at 2:00pm PDT

Ryan Reynolds + Peter Fonda at Canada’s Walk of Fame

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Oct 10, 2014 at 2:00pm PDT

Tove Lo, The Phoenix

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Oct 10, 2014 at 7:55pm PDT

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Sep 9, 2014 at 7:52pm PDT

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Sep 9, 2014 at 6:21pm PDT

Robert Pattinson at the NKPR IT Lounge, TIFF ’14

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Sep 9, 2014 at 1:55pm PDT

Channing Tatum, TIFF ’14

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Sep 9, 2014 at 10:20am PDT

Steve Carell, TIFF ’14

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Sep 9, 2014 at 10:19am PDT

Denzel Washington, TIFF ’14

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Sep 9, 2014 at 1:45pm PDT

Felicity Jones, TIFF ’14

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Sep 9, 2014 at 1:22am PDT

Kevin Costner, TIFF ’14

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Sep 9, 2014 at 1:19am PDT

Adam Sandler, TIFF ’14

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Sep 9, 2014 at 11:08am PDT

Robert Downey Jr., TIFF ’14

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Sep 9, 2014 at 8:18am PDT

Tom Hardy, TIFF ’14

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Sep 9, 2014 at 9:28pm PDT

Ian Somerhalder, Fan Expo 2014

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Aug 8, 2014 at 11:33am PDT

Elijah Wood, Fan Expo 2014

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Aug 8, 2014 at 12:53pm PDT

Norman Reedus, Fan Expo 2014

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Aug 8, 2014 at 10:29am PDT

Shawn Mendes, Universal Music Canada

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Aug 8, 2014 at 9:31am PDT

One Direction, Where We Are Tour

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Aug 8, 2014 at 7:09pm PDT

5 Seconds of Summer, Summer 2014

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Aug 8, 2014 at 6:45am PDT

Daniel Radcliffe + Zoe Kazan, The F Word Toronto Premiere

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Jul 7, 2014 at 5:16pm PDT

Katy Perry, Prismatic World Tour

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Jul 7, 2014 at 8:32pm PDT

Lady Gaga, Artrave Tour

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Jul 7, 2014 at 1:13pm PDT

Charlie Sheen, Joe Carter Classic Afterparty

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Jun 6, 2014 at 7:44pm PDT

Gordon Lightfoot, SOCAN Awards

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Jun 6, 2014 at 5:05pm PDT

    Missy Peregrym + Charlotte Sullivan, Shaw Media Upfronts

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Jun 6, 2014 at 12:24pm PDT

Charlie Barnett + Jesse Lee Soffer, Shaw Media Upfronts

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Jun 6, 2014 at 11:35am PDT

Stephen Amell, Bell Media Upfronts

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Jun 6, 2014 at 3:52pm PDT

Kirsten Vangsness, Bell Media Upfronts

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Jun 6, 2014 at 1:48pm PDT

    Elizabeth Henstridge, Bell Media Upfronts

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Jun 6, 2014 at 12:56pm PDT

Katie Holmes, Met Gala, NYC

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on May 5, 2014 at 11:56pm PDT

Blake + Ryan, Met Gala, NYC

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on May 5, 2014 at 11:56pm PDT

Hugh Jackman, Met Gala, NYC

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on May 5, 2014 at 11:55pm PDT

Lily Aldridge + Kate Upton, Met Gala, NYC

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on May 5, 2014 at 11:55pm PDT

Dakota Johnson (50 Shades of Grey), Met Gala, NYC

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on May 5, 2014 at 4:41pm PDT

Marion Cotillard, Met Gala, NYC

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on May 5, 2014 at 4:41pm PDT

Joshua Jackson + Diane Kruger, Met Gala, NYC

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on May 5, 2014 at 4:39pm PDT

Zac Efron, NYC

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on May 5, 2014 at 7:11am PDT

Iggy Azalea, The New Classic Tour

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Apr 4, 2014 at 11:54pm PDT

Cher, D2K Tour

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Apr 4, 2014 at 7:34pm PDT

Miley Cyrus, Bangerz Tour

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Apr 4, 2014 at 1:16am PDT

    Katheryn Winnick, Canadian Screen Awards

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Mar 3, 2014 at 4:08pm PDT

Martin Short, Canadian Screen Awards

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Mar 3, 2014 at 6:28pm PDT

Shay Mitchell, Canadian Screen Awards

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Mar 3, 2014 at 3:21pm PDT

Maria Bello, David Cronenberg + Viggo Mortensen, Canadian Screen Awards

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Mar 3, 2014 at 2:43pm PDT

    Laura Vandervoort + Olivier Trevena, Canada’s Stars of the Awards Season Gala, L.A.

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Feb 2, 2014 at 6:59pm PST

Ellen Wong, Canada’s Stars of the Awards Season Gala, L.A.

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Feb 2, 2014 at 5:35pm PST

TOP FILMS:

1. WHIPLASH
2. GONE GIRL
3. NIGHTCRAWLER
4. WILD
5. BIRDMAN
6. THE IMITATION GAME
7. FOXCATCHER
8. THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING
9. THE FAULT IN OUR STARS
10. THE LEGO MOVIE

Perhaps under-seen, WHIPLASH is the one Film you absolutely must see this year. J.K. Simmons and Miles Teller will shatter your World with their performances! You’ll leave shaken and sobered.

TOP SINGLES

1. ALL ABOUT THAT BASS – Meghan Trainor
2. BLANK SPACE – Taylor Swift
3.  WEST COAST – Lana Del Rey
4. BOOM CLAP – Charli XCX
5. POMPEII – Bastille
6. STAY WITH ME – Sam Smith
7. SHE LOOKS SO PERFECT – 5 Seconds of Summer
8. COUNTING STARS – OneRepublic
9. SHAKE IT OFF – Taylor Swift
10. SAY SOMETHING – A Great Big World ft. Christina Aguilera

2014 was all about that bass for us. Meghan Trainor blew our mind with her positive message about body image. We’re sold and extremely excited for her 2015 full-length Debut.

Won’t  you join us as we embark on more exciting adventures in Entertainment 2015?  Also stay tuned for an upcoming Post where our Contributors Jonathan Godfrey, Justin Waldman, David Baldwin and George Kozera share their fave Films of 2014 too!

Happy Holidays, Willionaire$!

Photos Post-TIFF ’14 taken on Nikon D3300. Photos pre-TIFF ’14 taken on Olympus E-PL5/Samsung S4.

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)

It was a great TIFF ’14.  I admit things were looking a bit scary with a smaller-than-expected Celebrity Guest List initially and lack of confirmations, but the Festival truly brought its A-Game and this indeed was one for the books!  I distinctly remember feeling a bit of panic on the first Friday of the Festival trailing far off the pace I’m normally at, nabbing only a handful of Celeb Snaps. Once the Festival picked-up by the  weekend, I found myself barely able to hang-on!  What a wild ride!

Many will attribute the shift in pace of the Festival due to the well-publicized guideline changes set this year, making it impossible for any Studios/Filmmakers to premiere at TIFF within its first four days had it premiered elsewhere on the North American Festival Circuit.  This in turn created room for several star-studded In-Conversation-Withs as part of the Festival’s Mavericks Programme with the likes of Denzel Washington & Antoine Fuqua, Richard Gere, Reese Witherspoon, Robert Duvall, Juliette Binoche.  We felt the pinch, believe me.  This however is a Statement the Festival must make to secure its exclusivity and maintain its place as an important Fixture for Films on the Award Trail.

We loved seeing the Publicity Machine at work before our eyes.  Stars in previous years who were on the inaccessible side, suddenly became warm to Fans. On the contrary though, we noticed a few Stars who normally are friendly and accessible become tough to access this TIFF.  We’re looking at you, Channing. It always is a true testament to how much the Stars believe in their product when they are willing to bring it!

We also are not surprised that THE IMITATION GAME (review here) was awared the Grolsch People’s Choice Award.  Upon seeing it in advance of the Festival, we knew the Film had that something special and this will be the Film that makes Benedict Cumberbatch a household name in North America.  How it shall fare this Awards Season remains to be seen, but given its Oscar-bagging connections – The Weinstein Co. – it should do just fine!

Our Contributors Jonathan Godfrey, David Baldwin, Justin Waldman and myself also might also have a thing or two to say about other deserving Contenders which premiered here at TIFF, which might not have gotten recognition.  Baldwin has the highest praise for Eddie Redmayne‘s performance in The Theory of Everything (review here), while Godfrey still is singing the patriotic praises of the “cosmic” Maps to the Stars (review here).  Waldman has a place in his heart for the overlooked Mommy (review here) and Pride (review here) – both which he feels will be Awards Season Candidates.  I myself was spellbound by the meditative slow-burn of Foxcatcher (review here) and the devastatingly-good Whiplash (review here).  Never discount Jake Gyllenhaal too as his self-starring and produced Nightcrawler was a bit of a Hit among Fans (review here)!  And although we didn’t see it, Chris Rock‘s triumphant return Top Five had multiple Studios in a bidding war for distribution rights.

 … and now for some Lists!

MR. WILL‘S TOP TIFF ’14 MOMENTS

1. Meeting Tom Hardy

2. Meeting Bill Murray

3. Meeting Benedict Cumberbatch x 2

4. Epic Reese Witherspoon Photo Op (after six tries prior)

5. Meeting Steve Carell

6. Meeting Melissa McCarthy

7.  Ansel Elgort saying he had to get a Selfie with Mr. Will, followed by comment from him on Instagram.

8. Mr. Will‘s Epic Hat Fail,  blocking Jennifer Garner‘s beautiful face

9. Meeting Miles Teller/J.K, Simmons WHIPLASH Combo

10. John Travolta‘s Fan Buffet outside The Forger Press Junket

MOST FAN-FRIENDLY CELEBS AT TIFF ’14

1. John Travolta

2. Tom Hardy

3. Reese Witherspoon (we are shocked!)

4. Benedict Cumberbatch

5. Chris Evans

CELEBS WHO OWNED TIFF ’14

1. Bill Murray

2. Al Pacino

3. Benedict Cumberbatch

4. Anna Kendrick

5. Steve Carell

SURPRISE! CELEBS

1. Melissa McCarthy

2. Kristen Bell

3. Chris Pine

4. Elizabeth Banks

5. Cara Delevingne

LEAST-ACCESSIBLE CELEBS

1. Robert Downey Jr.

2. Tina Fey

3. Keira Knightley

4. Denzel Washington

5. Kate Winslet

CELEBS WHO MADE THE MOST OF TIFF ’14

1. Chris Evans

2. Steve Carell

3. Benedict Cumberbatch

4. Jon Stewart

5.  Bill Murray

BUZZMETER

1. Benedict Cumberbatch

2. Eddie Redmayne

3. Miles Teller

4. Felicity Jones

5. Ansel Elgort

FILMS TO LOOK-OUT FOR AWARDS SEASON FROM TIFF ’14

1, The Imitation Game

2. St. Vincent

3. The Theory of Everything

4. Foxcatcher

5. Whiplash

And last but not least, we must thank our wonderful Supporters throughout TIFF who make it all possible.

CP24 & Bell Media: Thank you for continuing to provide and support me with an Outlet to share my greatest passion with Ontarians at my favourite time of year. I look forward to working together again TIFF ’15!

H&M Canada: Everything I wear is H&M.  Your Cardigans and Jackets were perfect for the indecisive hot-cold of TIFF ’14. Your clothing gives me confidence and comfort.  Thank you.

Nikon Canada: Although I am still mastering my Nikon D3300 admittedly, many of my Photos were another level of fantastic.  Capturing Photos in 24MP has given my Pictures a depth, clarity and level of detail which I’ve never before achieved.  In the words of Joel McHale (at the Festival with Adult Beginners), “Are you sure this is the best Camera to take a Selfie with?” *SNAP* “I guess it is!”.

Novotel Centre Toronto: I am happy to have called you my home once again TIFF ’14.  Billy and I miss our amazingly cozy bed and we appreciate the Puppy Welcome Package.  This shows the level of attentiveness you have for your Clients.  To be only minutes away from the thick of it all: the Movies, Parties and Celebrities and be able to crash in my Hotel Room for a quick recharge when I was in dire need of it was an absolute luxury I will not take for granted.  The in-and-our privileges of your Parking Lot were a blessing as was the reliable Wi-Fi.  The Staff always are accommodating, understanding and friendly. Without a doubt, I can recommend Novotel Centre Toronto as the place to stay during TIFF.

Samsung Canada: Communication is key to my Brand during TIFF and having access to  the Samsung Galaxy S5 and Galaxy Tab S this year ensured I always was able to stay in touch and charged.  When there was the ever rare lull in my day, I could whip-out my Devices and prep my Photos and Blog Posts, ensuring that I could actually spend precious time in my Hotel Room sleeping versus working.  This meant so much to me and I basically cannot imagine my life without a Galaxy Tab S. Really!

Ford Canada: I have never experienced  luxury like a LINCOLN MKZ.  The Panoramic Roof was a dream.  The 6-Speed SelectShift® was absolute state-of-the-art. The massaging chairs were decadent. The THX® II Certified Audio System was symphonic. The customizable interior lighting let me changing colours according to my mood. The Lincoln MKZ‘s concern for my safety with frequent alerts kept me focused on the road. Did I mention it’s awful easy on the eyes? I will never forget the TIFF in which Billy and I rolled in that silky, smooth Lincoln!

Out There with Melissa DiMarco: We always have a blast at Melissa’s Out There VIP Interview Studio and Hospitality Suite! Thank you for keeping Team Mr. Will fed and hydrated with your delectable goodies and thank you for embracing my Willionaire$!

NKPR IT LOUNGE: We are thrilled to have experienced the goodness enjoyed by the likes of Julianne Moore, Robert Pattinson, John Cuasack, Justin Long, Jena Malone, Felicity Jones and several more! Thank you also for giving my Willionaire$ a taste of that Celeb Life with your generosity!

Touchwood PR: We love you and appreciate the Golden Tickets my Readers and I have been given thanks to your kindness.  We value your friendship and are excited about what’s next to come!

Rock-It Promotions: We are honoured by some of the plum opportunities we were given this TIFF and we look forward to building our relationship with you in the future!

Shinan Govani: We are so proud to call you a Friend.  You are one of TIFF‘s most omnipresent Stars.  We continue to look-up to you and your profound influence on our thriving Celebrity Culture.

We hope you had a blast on our Digital Journey this TIFF ’14 and we can’t wait to do it all over.

Stick around, we’re at this year-round.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

If anyone knows how to win an Oscar, it’s certainly The Weinstein Co. Grolsch People’s Choice Award Winner THE IMITATION GAME certainly turned a few heads and touched a few hearts at TIFF ’14 and in case you haven’t acquainted yourself with its brilliance, now’s your turn. Acclaim is high for Benedict Cumberbatch‘s sensitive portrayal of Turing and the Film which gives due justice to an unsung Hero.

Official Synopsis:

Alan Turing (Benedict Cumberbatch), a brilliant Cambridge mathmetician, cryptanalyst and computer scientist, is enlisted by his country during World War II to break the Nazi Enigma code, and is later persecuted by the government for being homosexual. THE IMITATION GAME stars also, Keira Knightley, Matthew Goode, Allen Leech and Mark Strong. Morten Tyldum directs.

See the Trailer:

What do you think?  Best Picture?

Elevation Pictures release THE IMITATION GAME on Friday, November 21, 2014.

(Photo/video credit: Elevation Pictures)

We’re officially at the halfway point of TIFF ’14 and we’re still kickin’ it with tons of Stars to snap around the City!

Our day began bright and early with an appearance on 99.9 VIRGIN RADIO where we chat about Channing Tatum and spotting Stars at TIFF!
Full Audio below:

Tonight’s marquee Gala was David Cronenberg‘s Cannes-acclaimed Film, MAPS TO THE STARS.  Fans queued bright and early outside TIFF Bell Lightbox for a chance to see one of the Film’s Stars, Robert Pattinson of The Twilight Saga.  Filmed in Toronto last Summer, the odd Story centers on a washed-up Actress (Julianne Moore) looking for a Career resurgence.  See the Stars below, some of which headed over to the NKPR IT Lounge (enter to win a Prize Pack here!) afterward for some Photos with Caitlin Cronenberg‘s – Daughter  of David – in her W Magazine Portrait Lounge.

Julianne Moore

Newcomer Evan Bird

Sarah Gadon

Olivia Williams

John Cusack

Robert Pattinson

THE IMITATION GAME
While walking on-foot, I also stumbled upon the Cast of The Imitation Game starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Matthew Goode and Keira Knightley. The Film, getting tons of Oscar buzz, re-tells Mathematician Alan Turing‘s struggles in the WWII Era.

Benedict Cumberbatch

LEARNING TO DRIVE
Sir Ben Kingsley who was just in Toronto earlier this year filming LIFE, was spotted downtown today doing Press for his latest effort, Learning to Drive.

ESCOBAR: PARADISE LOST
Academy Award Winner Benicio Del Toro may be a genius Actor but had a bit of struggle understanding the concept of a Selfie! We spotted him arriving tonight, as he gets ready to premiere his latest Film, Escobar: Paradise Lost.

GOOD KILL
If anyone’s show longevity in Hollywood, it’s Academy Award Winner Ethan Hawke. Work has brought the Star to Toronto on multiple occasions in recent years and his latest, Good Kill premiered tonight at Ryerson Theatre. The Actor was partying at the Storys Building afterward.

All Photographs taken on the NIKON D3300 and communicated via the Samsung Galaxy S5.

Don’t forget to be following:

Twitter: @mrwillw

Instagram: @mrwillwong

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

Today will forever go down as the most explosive day of all time for TIFF! Stars were bursting at every seam after what was felt by the consensus as a a slow start to the Festival on Thursday. Parties were held all around the City and we made several successful Pit Stops around the City and got fueled by Starpower!

The day began with a Press Conference for Jason Reitman‘s new Film about  sexual frustrations, Men, Women & Children and although normally Fans get a chance to see and interact with the Cast, it would be the running-behind-schedule which hindered the experience. We still managed to see the following:

Jennifer Garner

Jason Reitman

Kaitlyn Dever

Adam Sandler

Ansel Elgort/Kaitlyn Dever

We also got a little surprise from Australian Actor Alex Russell, whom we met filming CARRIE here a couple years back! The Actor stars in CUT SNAKE at TIFF ’14!  He remembers us!

We love Paul Bettany and were ecstatic about meeting him as he went about his Press Day for self-directed Shelter, which premieres at TIFF ’14.

Not too far long after, we made our way over to the official Audi-sponsored Party for Oscar Contender, PRIDE over at Hotspot The Citizen.  All I have to say is Truffle Poutine.  Delish. The light-hearted Dramedy documents the true struggle of a Gay Activist Group in England, supporting Miners in need. The only thing however, is that the striking Miners didn’t want to be associated with the Group. The Film won a two-minute Standing Ovation from its Audience yesterday afternoon. See some Snaps of the talented Cast:

Bill Nighy

Ben Schnetzer & Jessie Cave

Dominic West

Andrew Scott

The Cast and Team behind PRIDE

We thought we’d re-visit the Cast of Paramount Pictures‘ Men, Women & Children once more at the official Party for the Film at new It-Spot, Montecito which happens also to be owned be legendary Filmmaker Ivan Reitman, Father of  Director Jason. Fans and Cameras lined the Carpet in eager anticipation as the Stars paraded by one-by-one including a few surprises! I was so happy to see our Friend Ansel Elgort, whom we met here in the City a couple years back when he was filming CARRIE. He noticed us right away at the Carpet proclaiming, “I’ve got to get a Selfie with Mr. Will!”. We’re incredibly proud how well he’s done and also what’s next to come for the Divergent and The Fault in our Stars Talent, who clearly has been propelled into Mega-stardom from the ecstatic screams I heard from Fans everywhere he went today.

Jennifer Garner

Rosemarie DeWitt

Ansel Elgort

Eugene Levy

Adam Sandler

An annual favourite Fixture of ours at TIFF is the InStyle Magazine Party, which shuts down a strip of Yorkville for a night and the amount of Starpower seen here was s t a g g e r i n g. We admit it was a bit of on the decline mostly due to unfortunate timing later in the Festival after an abundance of Stars leave town, but was it ever a night to remember for the Fans! We’re talking Megawatts!

Chris Evans (Before We Go)

Robert Downey Jr. (The Judge)

Noomi Rapace (The Drop)

Missy Peregrym dressed in Intermix (Backcountry)

Sarah Rafferty

Paul Dano (Love & Mercy)

Madeleine Stowe

Miles Teller (Whiplash)

Lacey Chabert (aka GRETCHEN WIENERS!!!)

Mark Ruffalo (Infinitely Polar Bear, Foxcatcher)

Jessica Chastain (Miss Julie)

Timothy Spall (Mr. Turner)

Ben Stiller (While We’re Young)

Jake Abel (Good Kill)

J.K. Simmons (Whiplash)

Abigail Spencer (This is Where I Leave You and The Forger)

Chloë Moretz (Laggies, Clouds of Sils Maria and The Equalizer)

Rick Hoffman

Nicola Peltz

Eddie Redmayne (The Theory of Everything)

Benedict Cumberbatch (The Imitation Game)

Kevin Costner (Black & White)

Will Peltz (Men, Women & Children)

Felicity Jones (The Theory of Everything)

Salma Hayek (Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet)

We spotted Channing Tatum, Jon Stewart and many, many more there also!!

Okay, we admit it. We were on a high and kept going right after till 5 AM (!!!)  when we also spotted several other Stars out and about! Look!

Anna Kendrick (The Last Five Years)

Douglas Booth (The Riot Club)

Rosario Dawson (Top Five)

Cedric the Entertainer (Top Five)

Jay Pharoah (Top Five)

We ain’t done. Wait till you see what we have in store next, Willionaire$!

Find out first here:

Twitter: @mrwillw

Instagram: @mrwillwong

All Photos captured on the NIKON D3300 and communicated via the Samsung Galaxy Tab S.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

It absolutely is our favourite time of the year again and announced this morning is the official list of Talent coming to Toronto for TIFF ’14! We look forward to seeing plenty of returning names – some just here last year like the likes of Jennifer Aniston and Kate Winslet – and also plenty of Stars from years past making their way back here once more!

Among the names attending TIFF ’14 this year include:

Jon Stewart, Martin Scorcese, Richard Gere, Andrew Garfield, Viggo Mortensen, Gael Garcia Bernal, James Franco, Jane Fonda, Chloë Moretz, Brit Marling, Laura Dern, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Vanessa Redgrave, Vera Farmiga, Al Pacino, Tina Fey, Haley Joel Osment, Robert Pattinson, Ansel Elgort, Alice Eve, Sam Rockwell, Amanda Seyfried, Michael Shannon, Dax Sheppard, Robert Duvall, Ben Stiller, Robert Downey Jr., Hailee Steinfield, Justin Chatwin, Method Man, Jennifer Connelly, Bobby Cannavale, Kuoth Wiel, Cassie Williams, Danny Webb, Dominic West, Jung Woo-Sung, John Boylan, Sam Worthington, Tye Sheridan, Andrew Scott, Timothy Spall, Alan Rickman, Connie Britton, Reese Witherspoon, Evan Bird, Zhao Wei, Han Ye-Ri, Melissa Benoist, Haley Bennett, Sonja Bennett, John Travolta, Julianne Moore, Isaach De Bankolé, Dan Stevens, Jason Bateman, Corey Stoll, Xavier Dolan, Peter Stormare, Ben Schnetzer, Abigail Spencer, Ellen Barkin, Bill Pullman, Charlotte Aubin, Kate Winslet, Ryan Reynolds, Rene Russo, Roger Waters, Simon Pegg, Rosamund Pike, Loreto Aravena, Tobey Maguire, Aubrey Plaza, Tobey Maguire, Gemma Arterton,  Juliette Binoche, Zhang Yimou, Rosemarie DeWitt, Kristen Wiig, Adam Sandler, Rose Byrne, Channing Tatum, Chris Evans, Jake Gyllenhaal, Dustin Hoffman, Mark Ruffalo, Bill Murray, Daniel Barber, Liam Aiken, Mike Leigh, Olivier Assayas, Richard LaGravenese, Diane Keaton, Kevin Kline, Anna Kendrick, Morgan Freeman, Benicio del Toro, Michael Douglas, Rosario Dawson, Chris Rock, John Cusack, Benedict Cumberbatch, Octavia Spencer, Keira Knightley, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Kevin Costner, Anthony Mackie, Patricia Clarkson, J.K. Simmons, Miles Teller, Priyanka Chopra, Daniel Bruhl, Michael Winterbottom, Justin Chon, Steve Carell, Gong Li, Hayden Christensen, Tory Kittles, Jordana Brewster, Holliday Grainger, Max Irons, Lone Scherfig, Sam Claflin, Douglas Booth, Paul Bettany, Daniel Barnz, Noah Baumbach, Barry Avrich, Jennifer Aniston, Akon, Nick Kroll, Holly Hunter, Catherine Keener, Greta Gerwig, Omar Sy Jennifer Garner, Salma Hayek, Kevin Smith, Eddie Redmayne,  Felicity Jones, Faye Marsay, Bill Nighy, Justin Long, Christopher Plummer, Marton Csokas, David Cronenberg, Sarah Gadon, Tom Schilling, Tom Hardy and more!

TIFF also will be hosting a series of In-Conversations-With as part of their Mavericks Programme. Joining-in are the likes of Reese Witherspoon, Robert Duvall, Denzel Washington, Richard Gere, Juliette Binoche, Jon Stewart, Dan Savage, Julie Taymor and several more!

As is the case always, it’s sometimes not just who’s coming – it’s who they’re bringing.  Don’t be surprised if Jennifer Garner brings Husband Ben Affleck along and be warned if Andrew Garfield brings Emma Stone along!

Who’s on our list of Must-Meets?  Plenty!  We hope finally to get a positive moment with Reese Witherspoon and Kate Winslet!  Excited about Martin Scorcese, J.K. Simmons, Bobby Cannavale, Miles Teller, Corey Stoll, Tobey Maguire, Rose Byrne, Michael Douglas and newer names like Max Irons and Douglas Booth, that’s for sure.  And did we read TINA FEY!?!?  Finally!  AND WHERE IS TOM HARDY?!?!

The list is always subject to surprise and no-shows as we know all too well!

Visit the official TIFF Website for more.

TIFF ’14 runs September 3 – 14, 2014.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)